Chapter 1

"Abi, it's time to get up! You're going to be late!" Zoe shouted up the stairs to try and get her daughter up and out of bed. Zoe listened to hear for any sounds of movement from her daughter's room, but as expected, there wasn't any.

"Abi, I'm being serious, you're going to make us all late and you won't be able to go on your trip!" Zoe shouted up the stairs again, beginning to get frustrated. All she wanted today was a stress free day as she had a horrible headache and didn't really want to go to work, but she didn't fancy sitting home alone all day either. Zoe glanced up the stairs, Abi's door was still closed as she could read the 'keep calm and stay out' sign stuck on it, decorated with flowers and butterflies. She had been complaining about them stickers for weeks saying she was too old for them. She's only 14, Zoe was pretty sure she was still into them at that age but she guessed it must be to do with the times and how they are changing. Zoe was about to go and get Abi out of bed herself, pull the duvet cover off her and refuse to give her it back until tonight as she hated not being warm and snug when she was in bed, but as Zoe took the first step on the stairs, she felt a pair of hands on both of her shoulders. She turned and saw her other half, Nick, who grabbed her by the waist, pulling her in for a cuddle and kissing her on the lips, twirling her around before placing her gently back on the step.

"Is she still not up?" Nick asked calmly as he could tell that Zoe was getting frustrated by Abi taking forever to get up. Nick knew too well that Abi is not a morning person, she is always grumpy and moaning but once she wakes up properly she is usually ok, but she's a teenager – what do they expect?

"Why don't you go and finish your breakfast and I'll sort Abi out." Nick explained before giving Zoe a quick kiss on the cheek. He could feel Zoe's warm cheeks on his lips, they felt warmer than usual so he put it down to her shouting at Abi all morning. Nick made his way upstairs and could see Abi's room getting closer and closer, yet still no sound of movement.

"Abigail Jordan, I hope you are up and out of bed otherwise I may have to cancel Bella sleeping at the weekend." Nick said calmly but sternly as he stood outside his daughter's bedroom door. He looked at the butterflies and flowers stuck on it. What happened to the little girl who did everything she was told to straightaway? Nick answered his own question. She had grown up.

Finally, Nick heard a loud sigh and the movement of feet shuffling around her room. She was eventually up. Nick looked at his watch, 8.15am. Both him and Zoe started at 9.00am and they had to drop Abi off at Bella's for 8.45am so they could walk to school together as they were going ice skating with the school today.

"You've got half an hour to get ready, not a minute more otherwise we'll have to go without you." Nick explained to his daughter. He always felt stupid talking to her through a closed door as he always preferred the face to face look as he spent most of his day talking to patients at the hospital but he had no choice but to do this with his daughter.

"Okay, okay, I know! Now leave me alone to get ready please!" Abi shouted back and all Nick could think was '...and good morning to you too Abi!'